"Mild soap worked okay for me too, but I always wondered if it's really enough to kill germs?"
Honestly, mild soap is usually fine for daily cleaning...but if you're worried about germs, you might try hydrogen peroxide diluted with water once or twice a week. It's gentler than mouthwash and does a decent job disinfecting without leaving residue. I've seen people get good results this way. Just make sure you rinse thoroughly afterward, since peroxide can taste pretty funky if you don't.
I've seen people get good results this way.
I've thought about peroxide too, but doesn't it damage the mouthguard material over time? I remember my dentist warning me about soaking mine in anything other than mild soap and water because harsher disinfectants could shorten its lifespan. Maybe I'm overly cautious...but has anyone actually noticed their mouthguard wearing out faster from peroxide or similar solutions? I'd hate to replace ours more often than necessary—they're not exactly cheap.
"Maybe I'm overly cautious...but has anyone actually noticed their mouthguard wearing out faster from peroxide or similar solutions?"
You're actually right to be cautious here—peroxide can indeed degrade the material of some mouthguards over time, especially if used frequently or in higher concentrations. Most mouthguards are made from thermoplastic materials that can become brittle or discolored with harsher disinfectants. Mild soap and water is usually enough for daily cleaning. If you're worried about germs, occasionally using a diluted peroxide rinse (once every week or two) shouldn't drastically shorten its lifespan. Just rinse thoroughly afterward. Hope this helps!
I get the caution about peroxide, but honestly I've been soaking mine in diluted peroxide every couple days for months now and haven't noticed any brittleness or discoloration yet. Maybe it depends on the brand or something...? Could be worth experimenting with yours.
"Maybe it depends on the brand or something...? Could be worth experimenting with yours."
Hmm, interesting...but aren't you worried about long-term effects you might not notice right away? I'm always a bit paranoid about soaking mine in anything strong. My dentist mentioned peroxide briefly, but she seemed hesitant—something about weakening the material over time. Maybe it's fine for certain brands, like you said, but I don't know if I'd risk it with my kid's mouthguard. Those things are expensive enough as it is, lol.
How long have you had yours now without any issues? Mine usually lasts around 6-8 months before it starts looking a bit worn down and gross. Maybe I'm just overly cautious (wouldn't be the first time!), but I stick to gentle soap and water just to be safe.
